Responses
*sigh* why can't I like a topic more than once :(
You explained this perfectly! Even before the outrage with the repetition of cliche misunderstandings, this manhwa had a major problem with pacing to begin with. There are so many unnecessary scenes, that DJun could've cut out half the chapters and the story would not have lost anything.
I’ve been trying to articulate for months what the pacing issue is with this story and, beyond the recent cliche misunderstandings, it’s the play-by-play presentation of time. Instead of focusing on key moments of interest with meaningful transitions, each chapter feels like you’re seeing anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours of in-story world time and that begins to make the chapters feel empty or airy because not enough is happening.
There’s nothing wrong with slow romantic burns if there is communication, understanding, and a greater appreciation for the other person as a human being unfolding through the slow march of time. These usually don’t go play-by-play but relevant moment to moment, the pace is leisurely but the scenes shown are vital in the emotional development if the characters at play. There’s nothing wrong with long format if you’re utilizing the chapter time to further the narrative and present new information. Play-by-play is fine when there is little retread ground or cyclical plot and/ or character issues.
There are few things more frustrating as a reader than the Battlestar Galactica problem wherein the middle of every major story arc the protagonist goes through the exact same character meltdown/ arc they went through the season before. It only leaves the audience questioning why we were shown this character arc multiple times if the lessons learned are immediately forgotten by the characters who experience them and have no lasting impact on the story.
TL;DR: There’s no shame in snail pace if every moment is truly relevant or revelatory, there’s no issue with slow burn if the moments are poignant. The issue arises in minute-to-minute story delivery lacking in "meat" and cyclical character issues introduced for drama’s sake/ length but not actual lasting character growth.
A healthy editing of scenes, compression of time, and light culling of the supporting cast would work wonders on this story. It’s a pity because there are promising, heart aching moments — Yuyang’s trip home and their phone call — there’s just too much fat in this particular steak for it to be called a good cut of narrative meat.